The National Magazine Award for Best Emerging Writer goes to a writer whose early work in magazines shows the highest degree of craft and promise.
2026 Winner
Edna Wan was awarded the Best Emerging Writer title for “Forbidden Fruit” published in Maisonneuve.
Previous Winners of Best Emerging Writer
2024 — Geneviève Larochelle-Guy — “La greffe de visage est-elle éthique?,” (Québec Science)
2022 — Marina Wang — “A Community’s Quest to Document Every Species on Their Island Home“
2021 — Stephanie Bai — “Seeking Sanctuary” (Maisonneuve)
2020 — Sherina Harris — “The Butterfly Effect” (The Walrus)
2019 — Kate Black — “Awkward Cause” (Maisonneuve)
Note that, in 2019, the category was re-named Best Emerging Writer, with changes made to the submission requirements and eligibility.
Previous Winners of Best New Magazine Writer
2018 — Max Binks-Collier — “Distant Relatives” (Maisonneuve)
2017 — Jessica Rose — “Lost and Found” (Toronto Life)
2016 — Amorina Kingdon — “The Questionable Science of Vancouver’s Port Expansion“ (Hakai Magazine)
2015 — Desmond Cole — “The Skin I’m In“ (Toronto Life)
2014 — Genna Buck — “Finding a Place” (Maisonneuve)
2013 — Catherine McIntyre — “Clusterf*ck” (THIS Magazine)
2012 — Sierra Skye Gemma — “The Wrong Way” (The New Quarterly)
2011 — Liam Casey — “Suicide Notes” (Ryerson Review of Journalism)
2010 — Matthieu Aikins — “Last Stand in Kandahar” (The Walrus)
2009 — Danielle Groen — “This is Your Brain on Love” (Chatelaine)
2008 — Kris Demeanor —”Get a Real Job” (unlimited)
2007 — Patrick White — “Red Rush” (The Walrus)
2006 — Jeremy Klaszus — “Big Oil on Trial” (AlbertaViews)
2005 — Larry Frolick — “The Wired Cabin” (Outpost); “Danger Signs” (The Walrus)
2004 — Sophie Lees (AlbertaViews)
2003 — Chantal Srivastava (L’actualité)
2002 — Jean-Francois Bégin (L’actualité)
2001 — Jonathan Trudel (L’actualité)
2000 — Matthew McKinnon
Previous Winners of Best New Visual Creator
2014 — Hudson Christie — “A Portrait of the Artist with Testicles in Hand” (Maisonneuve)
2011 — The Coveteur — “Gifts” (Report on Business)
2009 — Byron Eggenschwiler — “Tales from Riverheights Terrace” (Swerve)
Previous Winners of Best Student Writer
2008 — Chris Watt — “Iraq’s Walking Dead,” (Maisonneuve)
2007 — Julia Belluz — “I,” (Ryerson Review of Journalism)
2006 — Buffy Cram — “Man Hands,” (Prairie Fire)
2005 — Leigh Doyle — “So Long,” (Ryerson Review of Journalism)